NEMA Enclosure Ratings

"NEMA" Ratings Explained

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is internationally recognized as one of the premiere testing and certification facilities for electrical enclosures. Since many industrial and outdoor egress lighting fixtures must sustain harsher environments where UL Wet Location listings are not enough, specifiers refer to these NEMA Ratings to determine the housing strength and watertight integrity.

NEMA 1	General purpose. Enclosures are built for indoor use, providing a degree of protection to personnel. Resistant to a "normal" degree of falling dirt.
NEMA 2	Drip-tight. Same as NEMA 1, with a little more protection against dripped or splashed liquids.
NEMA 3	Weather-resistant. Enclosures are made for indoor or outdoor applications, providing a degree of safeguard to personnel against electrocution. Also a higher degree of protection against windblown dust, snow, dirt, rain or sleet.
NEMA 3R	Same as NEMA 3, but does not protect against windblown dust.
NEMA 3S	Weather-resistant. Enclosures are made for indoor or outdoor applications, providing a degree of safeguard to personnel against electrocution. Also a higher degree of protection against windblown dust, snow, dirt, rain or sleet. External switches, lamps and readouts will not be affected by external ice formation.
NEMA 4	Weatherproof (watertight). Enclosure rating exceeds NEMA 3S standards and can withstand high-pressure hosedowns.
NEMA 4X	Same as NEMA 4, but uses housing material with increased corrosion protection.
NEMA 5	Dust-tight. Indoor or outdoor enclosure provides a certain degree of protection against hazardous particles including falling dirt, settled dust, lint, fibers or flyings. Also prevents a certain degree of water ingress due to light splashing and dripping.
NEMA 6	Submersible. Provides increased protection against hose directed water and entry of liquids when submersed temporarily.
NEMA 6P	Same as NEMA 6, but with increased corrosion resistant housing materials.
NEMA 12	General purpose. Same as NEMA 6, but covers enclosures without conduit knockouts and added protection against the light splashing or absorption of oil and non-corrosive coolants.
NEMA 12K	Same as NEMA 6, but with increased corrosion resistant housing materials.
NEMA 13	General purpose. Indoor or outdoor enclosure with a degree of personnel protection against electrocution. Also provides degrees of protection against dust, fibers; liquid dripping or splashing; spraying, splashing or absorption of oil and non-corrosive coolants.